Maritime history of Orkney Islands

Coastal and Maritime Heritage

Orkney’s maritime landscape is defined by its strategic naval history and rugged coastline. This collection highlights iconic Stevenson-engineered lighthouses, such as the 19th-century towers at Cantick Head and Noup Head. Scapa Flow serves as a focal point, containing the protected war grave of HMS Royal Oak and the sunken remains of the German High Seas Fleet, including the SMS Markgraf and SMS König. Coastal sites like St Peter’s Pool and Scapa Beach provide evidence of World War II defenses set against natural sandy bays.

Coastal and Maritime Heritage — Map

BillC / Public domain

A

HMS Royal Oak

HMS Royal Oak was one of five Revenge-class battleships built for the Royal Navy during the First World War.

B

Brough of Birsay Lighthouse

The unmanned Brough of Birsay Lighthouse lighthouse was built in 1925 by David A Stevenson.

Matthew Prior / CC BY-SA 4.0

C

Sands of Evie

The Sands of Evie is a sandy beach landform near the village of Evie on Mainland Orkney, Scotland, protected by the Point of Hellia…

D

Noup Head Lighthouse

Noup Head Lighthouse lies on the north west headland of the isle of Westray, in Orkney, Scotland.

E

Cantick Head

The Cantick Head Lighthouse is an active 19th century lighthouse on the Scottish island of South Walls in the Orkney Islands.

F

SMS Dresden

A Cöln-class light cruiser of the German Imperial Navy scuttled in Scapa Flow in 1919. The wreck lies on its port side at a depth of approximately 25 meters.

G

SMS Karlsruhe

A Königsberg-class light cruiser scuttled in 1919. It is one of the shallower wrecks in Scapa Flow, resting at around 25 meters, and is noted for its visible internal machinery.

H

SMS Markgraf

A König-class battleship scuttled in Scapa Flow. It lies upside down at a depth of 45 meters, representing one of the most intact heavy ships of the German High Seas Fleet.

I

SMS König

The lead ship of her class of battleships, scuttled in 1919. It rests upside down at approximately 40 meters depth and shows significant blast damage from historic salvage attempts.

J

Scapa beach

A sandy beach at the northern end of Scapa Flow near Kirkwall. It was a vital landing area during both World Wars and remains overlooked by historic coastal infrastructure.

K

North Ronaldsay ("New") Lighthouse

Completed in 1854 by Alan Stevenson, this is the UK's tallest land-based lighthouse at 42 meters. It features a distinctive red brick tower with two white bands.

L

St Peter's Pool, Orkney

St Peter's Pool is a bay in the East Mainland of Orkney, Scotland. This bay was the site of significant coastal defences during World War II…

M

Wreck of B98

The remains of a German V116-class destroyer. Unlike the deep-water wrecks of Scapa Flow, parts of this vessel are visible in the intertidal zone of Lopness Bay.

N

Start Point Lighthouse

Established in 1806 on Sanday, this lighthouse was the first in Scotland to feature a revolving light. The tower is marked by unique vertical black and white stripes.

O

Copinsay Lighthouse

A David A. Stevenson lighthouse built in 1906 on the now-uninhabited island of Copinsay. The station includes a preserved fog signal house and was automated in 1991.

Other Lists

Orkney Islands Essentials Archaeological Wonders of Orkney Historic Churches of Orkney Historic Structures of Orkney